Despite the fact that foldable phones have been available in India for several years, it appears that the foldable phone market is still in its early stages. However, there's a clear distinction between two types of foldable devices: those that feel like compromises and those that don't. The OnePlus Open unequivocally falls into the latter category. At a time when foldable phones often suffer from unwieldy designs, fragile hinges, and lacklustre cameras, the OnePlus Open offers a breath of fresh air. It boasts sleekness, elegance, and a user experience that matches its appearance.
The OnePlus Open stands out as the only foldable phone that doesn't feel like a compromise. It is the thinnest and lightest full-sized foldable phone in the Indian market, measuring just 11.9mm when closed and a mere 5.8mm when unfolded. Weighing approximately 239g, it is also one of the lightest foldable phones globally and indisputably the lightest full-sized foldable available in India.
Moreover, the OnePlus Open's hinge sets a high standard. It operates smoothly and with a satisfying snap, devoid of any creaking or groaning. OnePlus asserts that the hinge is exceptionally durable and can endure over 1 million folds, though this figure cannot be independently verified. Based on my usage, it appears promising, and I hope it maintains its durability over time.
The OnePlus Open offers a choice between two colours: black with a vegan leather back or the company's iconic green with a matte-finish glass rear panel. While I personally favour the Voyager Black due to its classy appearance and textured finish, both colours look and feel fantastic and are sure to turn heads.
One standout feature that elevates the OnePlus Open is its dual AMOLED displays, inside and out. The inner display is a 2K resolution 7.82-inch panel, while the outer display is a 2K resolution 120Hz 6.3-inch AMOLED panel. Both are finely tuned 10-bit displays with a peak brightness of 2,800 nits, which is truly remarkable. Notably, the 6.3-inch outer screen feels like a traditional smartphone display and can be used without relying on the primary inner display. Both displays are characterized by their brightness, colour richness, and sharpness.
The camera capabilities of the OnePlus Open are another remarkable feature. It boasts a triple-lens rear camera system, with a 48MP Sony LYTIA-T808 sensor as the main camera, complete with optical image stabilization (OIS). The ultrawide sensor is also a 48MP camera, and the telephoto sensor is a 64MP lens offering 3x optical zoom and 6x in-sensor crop. Additionally, there's a 32MP selfie camera on the outer screen and a 20MP selfie camera on the inner screen.
The camera quality of the OnePlus Open is best explored in a detailed review, which is available in video format at the end of this article. In summary, the OnePlus Open's cameras are outstanding. The main sensor captures sharp, detailed photos in various lighting conditions. The ultrawide sensor delivers wide-angle shots with minimal distortion, and the telephoto sensor enables zooming in on distant subjects without significant loss of detail. The selfie cameras also perform admirably, although, for selfies, I predominantly used the rear camera and the front screen as a viewfinder. Overall, the OnePlus Open boasts highly capable cameras.
Under the hood, the OnePlus Open is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, coupled with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. This singular version of the phone is complemented by a 4,800mAh battery and 67W fast charging.
In summary, the OnePlus Open is an exceptionally fast phone, handling multitasking with ease and smoothly running demanding applications and games without any issues. Even during heavy usage, the phone remains cool, which can be partly attributed to effective software optimization. The OnePlus Open runs on OxygenOS 13.2 atop Android 13, delivering a clean, bloat-free version of Android that is fast, fluid, and provides a wide array of customization options.
In conclusion, priced at around Rs 1,40,000 or Rs 1,35,000 with the bank discount factored in, the OnePlus Open is arguably the best foldable phone on the market. It offers ample RAM and 512GB of storage, in addition to its sleek and elegant design, remarkable cameras, and powerful performance. If you seek a foldable phone that doesn't compromise on any front, the OnePlus Open is a compelling choice.
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